Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
THE Castle Lager Premier Soccer League’s joint leading goal scorer Knox Mutizwa says he is still on course to claim the Golden Boot award at the end of the season despite failing to score in Highlanders’ win over Dongo Sawmill on Sunday.

Mutizwa’s miserable day saw him missing a spot kick after he had been hacked down inside the box by Dongo Sawmill defender Martin Tapatapa in the 36th minute.

It was Mutizwa’s second penalty miss of the season after he missed another in the 0-1 loss to Whawha at Ascot Stadium in Gweru last month.

Mutizwa also missed a number of gilt-edged chances that seemed easier to score against the Rusape-based relegation candidates.

“It’s obviously sad to miss a penalty. I made a last minute decision as I was kicking the ball. Had I stuck to my initial decision, I think I could have scored, but made a split second decision to change the direction of the ball and that proved fatal,” said Mutizwa.

He, however, said his failure to score did not derail his overall objective of landing the top goal scorer’s crown.

He denied that he was under any pressure to score after his main rival Edmore Chirambadare scored against How Mine on Saturday to bring him level on 11 goals.

“I wasn’t under any pressure at all. This is God’s doing and I still believe I’ll take the award. I don’t know if he (Chirambadare) is under any pressure because I’m not. I might have failed to score today but I’ll pick up the pieces and get ready for the next game against Chapungu,” said Mutizwa, who is also a leading candidate for the Soccer Star of the Year accolade.

Meanwhile, Chicken Inn’s Chirambadare is one card away from disqualification from the Soccer Stars of the Year selection race.

With five games to go, Chirambadare has five yellow cards, mostly from simulation inside the box and if he picks his sixth card, it would be over for him unless the selection criterion is altered.

“I wish I could stop using him but I can’t. I guess we just have to let fate take its call. It will really be hard for the young man, but rules are rules,” said his coach at Chicken Inn Joe Antipas, who made a surprise visit to the Highlanders’ club house on Sunday.

He was warmly welcomed by the Highlanders supporters, some of whom started speculating that he was probably having a “feel of his future home”.

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